Spring-wheel.



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V I SPRINGWHIL.v APPLICATION FILED ^UG2I, 1916.

Patented Aug. 7, 1917i gmc/nto@ O' Moglie/1 amg.

.(1. F. MDELLER.

- f SPRING WHEEL. APPLICATION vFILED AUG.2h i916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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cHARLEs' F. MOELLER, or Newv ORLEANS, LOUISIANA.

SPRING-WHEEL.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known'that I, CHARLES F. MOELLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Orleans, in the parish of Orleans and State of Louisiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spring- Wheels, of which the following is a specification. l

This invention relates to an improved spring wheel and hasras its primary object to provide a construction designed to displace the use of the commonly employed pneumaticV tire.,`

The invention has as a further object to provide an arrangement wherein the wheel will be effectually cushioned under eccentric movement of the hub while, at the same time, the structure will be thoroughly durable.

And the invention has as a still further object to provide a wheel employing a tread formed of a plurality of annular sections independently cushioned and free with respect to each other so that the said tread will effectually engage the road surface to secure a purchase thereon and further so that the cushioning action of the wheel will be correspondingly enhanced.

Other and incidental objects will appear as the description proceeds and in the drawings wherein I have, illustrated the pre-A ferred embodiment of .the invention and wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts ,throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of my improved wheel showing the manner in which the tread thereof is yieldably supported to cushion the wheel,

Fig. 2 is a plan view showing the arrangement of the tread blocks upon the sections-A of the wheel tread,

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 and more particularly showing the connection between the sections of the tread and the inner' rim of the wheel, Y

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view showing one of the tread units and illustrating the mounting of the treadblocks employed, and

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view showing the elements of one of the tread units disconnected but in proper operative position with respect to each other.

In carrying out the invention, the wheel `Specification of Letters Patent.

site sides thereof. Extending inwardly from fthe rim 13, are pairs of oppositely disposed ears .14 confronting opposite sides of the felly and receiving bolts or other suitable fastening devices 15 connecting the'rim with the felly. Y j

Surrounding'the inner rim 13 is a tread Patented Aug. *7, 1917.

Application led August 21, 1916. Serial No. 116,124.

which, as particularly shown in Fig. 2, is

formed ofa plurality of annularsections. w

These sectionsare all of similar construction and each includes a series of tread links 16 which are each provided at opposite ends Y thereof with Vspaced ears, as particularly shown in Fig. 5 ofthe drawings with the '1.'

ears of the said links interittingand connected by a plurality of pivot -pins 17. The links 16 are preferably of rectangular configuration and are open to receive tread blocks 18. These blocks .may be formed of wood or other similar resilient material and are fitted into the links 16 to wedge therein, the blocks beingfslightly larger at-their inner extremities than at their outer extremities. Arranged tooverlie theinnerends-of the treadblocks `are a plurality of bearing plates 20. These platesv are, at their inner extremities, rolle'dto form hinge loopsl 21 freely receiving the pivot pins 17 for pivotally supporting the plates upon the pins beneath the Vtread links 16 with the beveled free ends of the plates overlapping to provide an annular section of. a flexible outer rim arranged to coperate with the said links. ,The tread sections as thus formed are arranged side by side, as best shown in Fig. 3, around the inner rim 13 with the tread blocks 18 of thev intermediate tread ety section disposed in staggered relation Ato the rim 13, are a plurality of links 22.

These links are arranged in pairs at quadrantly spaced points about the rim sections to engage opposite side edges of the sections with the inner ends of the links swingingly connected to the inner rim by suitable'pivot pins 23 and with the outer ends of the said links freely `engaging adjacent pivot pins 17 ofthe rim sections, the said pivot pins 17 being elongated, of course, to receive the said links. Preferably, the inner rim 13 is provided with suitable upstanding ears toreceive the pivot pins 23, but, as will be understood, the said pivot pins may be connected with the said rim in any suitable manner.

Bearing lrbetween the inner rim 13 and the plates 20 of the rim sections are a plurality of cushioning elements or springs 24. These springs are suitably connected at their inner extremities with the inner rim with the outer ends of the springs freely engaging the said bearing plates and are arranged in 'laterally spaced annular' series upon the inner rim with one series of springs arranged to coperate with each of the tread sections. As will now be clear, eccentric movement of the hub l0 will, as particularly shown in F ig. lof the dra-wings, be yieldably cushioned :by the springs 24 with the rim sections adapted to fleX under the weight of a load to conform to the road surface, and since the said rim yis formed of sections independent with respect to each other, the said v-sections will be adapted to individually act for cushioning the wheel. Moreover, in employing a plurality of tread sections, a secure ypurchase for the wheel will be held. It will thus be seen -that I provide a very efficient construction :for the purpose set forth and a wheel which may be used to displace the commonly employed pneumatic tire.

Having thus described the invention, what I :claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. .Aspring wheel including an inner rim, an :annular `tread surrounding the said rim and including a plurality of pivotally connected links, bearing plates connected to said links and coacting to provide -an outer rim, Vand a plurality of cushioning Velements between the inner and outer rims.

2. A spring lwheel including an inner rim, an annular tread surrounding the said rim and formed of a plurality of units pivotally connected, bearing plates mounted to swing upon the said units and coacting to provide an outer' rim, and a plurality of cushioning velements for the tread bearing between the said rims.

3. A spring wheel including an inner rim, an annular tread surrounding the said rim, the said tread including a plurality of pivotally connected links, tread blocks carried by said links,'and bearing plates pivotally connected with the said links and coacting therewith with the said plates overlapping to provide an outer rim, andcushioning elements for the tread bearing between said inner and outer rims.

4. A spring wheel including an inner rim, an annular tread surrounding the said rim, the said tread including a plurality of links, means pivotally connecting the said links, and a plurality of bearing plates pivotally mounted upon the said means and coacting to provide an outer rim, a plurality of cushioning elements for the tread bearing between the inner and outer rims, and means connecting the tread with the inner rim and secured `to the said first mentioned means.

5. A spring wheel includingan inner rim, an annular tread surrounding the said rim, thesaid tread including a pluralityfof pivotally connected links, tread blocks fitted through the said links, `and bearing plates connected with the links to overlie the inner ends of said blocks with the said plates coacting to provide an outer rim, and cushioning elements for the tread 'bearing between the said inner and outer rims.

6. A spring wheel including an inner rim, an annular tread surrounding lthe said rim, the said tread includingfa plurality of links provided with pivotally connected mating ears, vand bearing plates fitting between the said ears and connected with the said links with the said plates coacting to provide an outer rim, and cushioning elements for the tread bearing between said inner and outer rims.

In testimony whereof I aliix my signature.

CHARLES F. MOELLER. [L 8.]

Copiesof `thispatent may be obtained for ve cents each, byaddressing the Commissioner of Patents.

' Washington, D. C. 

